We get it: as a parent, it can be tough to ensure your child maintains good oral health. Often, when it’s time to brush their teeth, they would rather do literally anything else. This is certainly a challenge, but getting them to effectively brush their teeth is essential. In fact, proper brushing and flossing practices are one of the best ways to help them prevent cavities — one of the most common oral health issues for kids and adults, alike. Despite their prevalence, cavities are also one of the easier problems to fix, thanks to dental fillings. In today’s blog, your Shirley, NY, pediatric dentist and orthodontist discusses cavities and the ways that fillings can mitigate the damage they cause.
Understanding Cavities
Cavities are one of the most prevalent and common forms of tooth decay. For the most part, they develop due to lifestyle choices like consuming an abundance of sugary, acidic beverages and foods. Moreover, genetics can also determine susceptibility to cavities. To prevent this type of decay, try to limit your child’s intake of sugar and encourage them to brush and floss their teeth. Again, we know it can be difficult to enforce suitable at-home habits, but we are always happy to give you and your family pointers to make this routine more fun!
While there are numerous kinds of decay, the most common type for children is a coronal cavity, which is found on their chewing surfaces and between teeth. Another type that requires more intrusive treatment is a root cavity. When there are initial signs of decay, it is essential to treat the affected area as quickly as possible, as cavities worsen over time. As they develop, treatment can become more complex and invasive, so acting fast is in your and your child’s best interests. This is precisely why it is so important to bring your kid in for a checkup and cleaning every six months; when you do, we can monitor the health of their smile and determine if there are any growing irregularities.
Treating Decay With Fillings
When a cavity does develop, we will likely suggest a dental filling as treatment. For this procedure, we will carefully extract the decaying part of their tooth and then fill in the hole with a composite resin. This is color-matched to the rest of their teeth, so it is indistinguishable its surroundings. We know this might sound intrusive, but we go to great lengths to ensure all of our patients are comfortable and free from any pain. We fully numb the area and if your child is particularly anxious, we can provide them with a mild sedative. Once we have finished, your kid’s tooth will feel completely normal.
Contact Us To Learn More About Cavities And Fillings
If you have any questions or would like to schedule an appointment, do not hesitate to contact Shirley Orthodontics and Pediatric Dentistry in Shirley, NY, by calling (631) 399-1600.
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